Ventilating Under Floor

A sub floor that is not properly ventilated is an attraction for termites which can destroy the timber supports of your home. This will cause the value of your home to go down. The presence of mould will cause you to develop respiratory problems and you are likely to have sinuses and symptoms of allergies. The area between the floor and the ground should, therefore, be ventilated properly.

Your under floor should not have any vegetation or rubble and should have vents that are spaced evenly. The vents should be strategically located to ensure that there is cross ventilation. This means that clean air should come in from one side and should be expelled from the opposite side. The ventilation that will be needed for your under floor will depend on the location of your home and the type of weather experienced in the area.

Causes Of Dampness In The Under Floor

During the rainy season, flood water may fail to drain properly and may pool against the wall of your home. This water will then gradually soak into your under ground causing it to be damp. You may also have a garden that is right next to your wall and whenever you water the garden, the water will end up finding its way to your under floor. You could also have a pipe that is cracked underground which is causing water to seep into your under floor. If you are living in an old home, there is a possibility that the level of the ground around your home has changed and has interfered with the sub floor ventilation.

Damage To Timber

If your floor is made from timber and your under the floor is damp, the floor boards will absorb the moisture and will expand. Since they are tightly packed on the floor, the boards will begin to rise up as they will find no space to expand. This means that your floor will be uneven. The floor boards can also expand so much that they end up pushing out the frame of your wall. When the timber in your sub floor begins to decay, termites can find a nest there and will feed on the timber thus destroying the structure of your home.

Ventilating The Sub Floor

Depending on the ventilation requirements of your under a floor, you can either use natural or mechanical sub floor ventilation. Natural ventilation is where natural flow of air is allowed to move in and out of the sub floor through vents. Fans can also be used to bring in air from one side and expel damp air from the opposite side.